Thursday, 17 October 2013

Mithras - Forever Advancing… Legions

MITHRAS - Forever Advancing… Legions (GOLDEN LAKE - CD 2002)

In 2002, at the time when I was preparing the
release of the second issue of my fanzine, I got a CD from the unknown Scottish
label / band. The label was called Golden Lake Productions and they just
released a debut album of Mithras called “Forever Advancing… Legions”. I still
remember how great impression this album did on me; I even decided to interview
the band asap and really, really considered them to be one of the best death
metal bands around at that time; one which can easily rival the masters of the
genre. Yes, it wasn’t an exaggerated opinion… This band – led by two amazing
instrumentalists Leon Macey and Rayner Coss – showed some absolutely amazing
skills, composed truly brilliant album and what’s more, even if certainly they
did take some influences from two or three legendary death metal bands, they
also managed to create the material, which was different and in the end more
original than your usual death metal record. Yeah, “Forever Advancing… Legions”
did fuckin impress me. The album was later re-released by Candlelight Records,
but somehow I cannot say that Mithras really got the attention they deserved.
Unfortunately I doubt many maniacs know this band… well, maybe this review will
introduce you to this really awesome band and it will force you to check them
out. If not, then go and listen to Beaber until you go deaf.

So, what’s all the fuzz about “Forever
Advancing… Legions”? Well, think about the albums from such bands as Morbid
Angel, Nocturnus, Nile, Luciferion, After Death (plus it also reminds me Polish
Lost Soul from “Immerse in Infinity”, although Mithras couldn’t hear this
album, as it was released few years after “Forever…” hehe) and now try to get
something new out of these influences, with the concept based around the
Ancient Rome and christian crusades and you’ll be there! “Gladiator” is one of
my favourite movies of all time, “Kingdom of Heaven” as well, so it was kind of
cool to finally listen to an album with the lyrics based on these parts of
history. And Mithras did really awesome job here, constructing a twelve song
album (with 46 minutes on the clock), which brings many great surprises and
truly is like a travel in time. I think that the opening song, which is a damn
monumental, heroic intro, already puts the listener in the right mood – and I
can compare this intro only to the best epic movie soundtracks, with the
exception that Mithras added some lunatic guitar leads in the background. And
then BANG – “Trample Their Works” erupts with great aggression, fast and
relentless, with some splendid riffs and truly incredible vocals (including
some clean vocal parts here and there)… this song alone can give you an idea
for what Mithras music is like; massive, technical riffs, great atmosphere,
furious tempos, but also a lot of diversity and finally those guitar leads!
Damn, Leon Macey is such a talented guitarist (and drummer, as his drumming is
also really damn awesome and very precise, very technical, with lots of cool
parts). With “Sloping Altars” the tempo doesn’t slow at all at first, but then
killer Morbid Angel-esque riff cracks before another cannonade of ultra fast
death metal starts… but it is “Arena Sands”, which really shows the whole
potential of Mithras – very unique, technical death metal song, but with many
varied parts, from fast to really slow and epic and even a bit of more
ambiental stuff. This song may sound strange to some of you, it may be almost
too experimental and too complex, not just musically, but also with its
structure, but give it few listens and I dare to say you’ll love it.

I have a feeling like the album was split in
two parts (first being about the Ancient Rome and the second deals with the
crusades, at least this is what I understand from the lyrics) and the two
instrumentals, which are tracks number five and six are the end and beginning
of the chapters. Again you’ll hear bombastic, kind of movie soundtrack,
orchestral motifs and I must say that such break in the middle of the album
does work well for “Forever Advancing… Legions”. After that we have such
excellent songs as “Wrath of God” (slower, very similar to “Domination” era
Morbid Angel) and “Dreaming in Spendour” and I have nothing to add; the band
left me speechless. Really, they recorded some incredibly awesome songs here, I
just love the guitar work, especially leads and harmonies on this album – Trey
Azagthoth would probably die in jealousy if he ever heard them. The final
effect is even better with quite unique production of “Forever Advancing…
Legions”. All in all, I must say that if you’re into “Domination” LP, as well
as into Nocturnus, Hate Eternal and all the other bands, which I have mentioned
in this review then you just must get yourself a copy of “Forever Advancing…
Legions”.

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What is this blog for...?

This blog is first and foremost to remind the UG metal community my work on PANZERFAUST zine, so I'll try to exhume my old interviews and reviews from that zine.

Blog is also an opportunity for me to share my thoughts on new releases, new bands... I'll publish here new reviews or interviews I've written recently, just for the pleasure of doing so and getting these things out of my mind, as I still enjoy writing about the music I love and live.Finally I'll be sharing here any others things I find interesting...